How Did YOUR Year Rate?

You Had a Fantastic Year!

Compared to most years, last year was definitely great. Overall, you're living a much better life than you were twelve months ago. And nothing is a better mark of a good year. Here's to hoping next year is even better!

How Did Your Year Rate?

Goody Two Shoes - Adam & the Ants

First Santa Sighting!

I finally figured out how Santa can visit so many boy's and girl's homes in only one night.

I'd be hustlin' too, if NORAD had a tactical nuke radar-locked on me.

MMMBop - Hanson

Carol Quiz

So You Think You Know Carols?

In a word: No.

You got 64% correct. Tsk.
You have been shopping and eating too much and not singing enough.
Study up, study up, study up let's go!

I know a few Carols; nice ladies.

I do have an ani, though.


Thanks to Sisterbelle for the link.

No Surprise Here!

You Are a Fruitcake!

You taste like nothing else in this world. And get ready, you're about to get tossed!

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

I Doubt I Could Afford

To buy even one of Madonna's rejects.

It Must Be Hell

Living in New Zealand and Great Britain. The high will be nice enough, but that low temp is gonna be a scorcher.



This is a screenshot from my Excite start page; I have some of my best online friend's weather on it so that even if I don't get an email from them, I can at least have some sort of idea of what sort of day they're having.

I'm sure there's some glitch in the feed for the UK and NZ that put in those extreme numbers. 18,000 + deg. F is hot, "damned" hot, I'd say.

It might very well be that warm there; it's the dreary middle of winter here, but it's summertime in New Zealand. I don't reckon it's THAT hot there, but then again, Annie might be on the warpath and a guy could light a cigarette on her forehead. (if he was stupid enough to try)

And Minnie...well, I've always heard those Essex gals are HOT.

Especially at this moment and time

61%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

I'm slightly above average, that's all I ever hoped for.

In anything.

Ironic - Alanis Morissette

In honor of our new blog label.

Isn't It Ironic?

Announcing a new label: "ironic"

Was just looking through the TV listings on my Excite start page when I noticed something ironic.

CMTV is showing a repeat of a reality show: Billy Ray Cyrus... Home at Last

Here's the description of the show:

Billy Ray has to decide between his music and his family when he discovers his tour schedule would cause him to miss his daughter's birthday.

At the same time, there are several reruns of Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. a children's sitcom starring Cyrus' daughter Miley Cyrus as well as Billy Ray. Here's the title and synopsis of one of the shows:

Achy Jakey Heart
Jake returns from filming his movie and tries everything to win Miley back.

The ironic thing about this is not that both shows about both people are on at the same time on two different networks, but that they are all--both shows, both people and both networks-- nauseatingly boring.

A Tree Covered in Money, Maybe

You Should Have a Green Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent tradition and memories. You tend to do things the same way each year. You find your holiday customs comforting. You enjoy all of the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of Christmas. You can't imagine getting any joy from an artificial tree. Your green tree would look great with: Classic ornaments You should spend Christmas Eve watching: How the Grinch Stole Christmas What you should bake for Santa: A gingerbread house

What Color Christmas Tree Should You Have?

I Failed

But they made me feel pretty good about it.

You Know a Lot About Christmas

You got 5/10 correct You know tons about the history and traditions surrounding Christmas. When you celebrate the holidays, you never forget their true meaning - or all the little fun details. Random Christmas fact: Only 21% of US households has a real Christmas tree each year.

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

Farmhenge

Farm equipment half-buried, just off the Claude Highway, east of Amarillo.

Not as famous as the Cadillac Ranch, but....

He'll Learn

The baby will learn, not the cat.

He's lucky he didn't lose an eye.

Just Like the Internet

Reminds me of message boards and forums: folks making a lot of noise, but know there will be no contact.

Holiday Quiz

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about emotional connections and bonds. You are happiest being around those you love. You celebrate the holidays in a minimalist style. You are likely to only give one great present and decorate your house with a few special items. During the holidays, you feel happily busy. There's so much do to and not a lot of time to do it. But you enjoy every minute of your holiday chores. You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child. Your best holiday memories are warm and intimate. You remember special moments more than gifts or parties.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

This Ain't No Bull

A US citizen stopped at a local restaurant following a day roaming around in Mexico . While sipping his tequila, he noticed a sizzling, scrumptious looking platter being served at the next table. Not only did it look good, the smell was wonderful. He asked the waiter,

"What is that you just served?"

The waiter replied, "Ah senor, you have excellent taste! Those are called Cojones de Toro, bull's testicles from the bull fight this morning. A delicacy!"

The American said, "Oh yeah, sounds good... bring me an order."

The waiter replied, "I am so sorry senor. There is only one serving per day because there is only one bull fight each morning. If you come early and place your order, we will be sure to save you this delicacy."

The next morning, the man returned, placed his order, and that evening was served the one and only special delicacy of the day. After a few bites, inspecting his platter, he called to the waiter and said,

"These are delicious, but they are much, much smaller than the ones I saw you serve yesterday."

The waiter shrugged his shoulders and replied,

"Si, Senor. Sometimes the bull, he wins."

Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline

What Classic Movie Are You?

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

One of my favorite movies, too.

I took the 45 question test.

deipnosophist

From Dictionary.com

deipnosophist \dyp-NOS-uh-fist\, noun:
Someone who is skilled in table talk.

At the age of six his future as a deipnosophist seemed certain. Guzzling filched apples he loved to prattle. Hogging the pie he invariably piped up and rattled on.
-- Ellis Sharp, "The Bloating of Nellcock"

Deipnosophist comes from the title of a work written by the Greek Athenaeus in about 228 AD, Deipnosophistai, in which a number of wise men sit at a dinner table and discuss a wide range of topics. It is derived from deipnon, "dinner" + sophistas, "a clever or wise man."

From Quinduno's Quotes:

"There are no deipnosophists at a Thanksgiving table."

Couldn't Have Been Anything Else!

You Are Valentine's Day

You are a true romantic who places the ultimate importance on love. You are warm hearted, and you find it easy to care for people. Love is what drives you - and you have a love to give. You enjoy making someone's day. You're full of surprises. What makes you celebrate: Being with the person you love on a special day At holiday get togethers, you do best as: The sentimental one On a holiday, you're the one most likely to: See it as romantic and special

What Holiday Are You?

I'm Well-Known for This

What I Do With This Blog

Off on you.

You Gotta Be a Football Hero

To get along with the beautiful girls. Needless to say, I didn't get the beautiful girls, but I had my moments. This is a two play in a row snippet of the 1971 8-Man Regional Championship. I'm the middle linebacker.






I'll have more when I get this program sussed out a bit better.

Me 'n My Ex

Incomplete Pass (6mb)

This is a video I took which I've decided to use as a test of the new Blogger video upload. It's an incomplete pass during the Canadian/Tulia bi-district football game I attended last night in Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas.

I've a Nikon Coolpix 7600 that can take videos in .mov format. I don't like Quicktime, but the camera had most of the other features I wanted in the price range I had in mind. I really hadn't planned on taking videos with it, but one night while attempting to take some photos of an oncoming thunderstorm, I took a few seconds of an 18-wheeler driving by in the rain. Even though it was dark, it was cool, especially with the doppler effect of the truck whizzing by.

It gave me an idea that it might be cool to take a short video of a train coming by; set my tripod up fairly close to the track, wait until I hear one and start the camera rolling. I think it might best to point it away from the coming train and then have it WHOOSH into the frame.

I think I'll do that tomorrow!

(since I started on this, I found I had a program that could convert the file to .wmv)

Sometimes

After a week of talking only to my cat, I can be

Vote For LBJ !!!

Kinky Politics

Friedman's ideas on overhauling the Texas (and US) method of electing our "public servants". -snicker-

I voted for the Kinkster, by-the-way. I wish he'd run for President.

Cheeseburger Challenge

From My High Plains:

AMARILLO -- The German film crew for the show "Galileo" found themselves in Arnold Burgers today asking "where's the beef?" They ordered the #241 which is the 24" cheeseburger. After eating a small portion of the burger, it proved too big for the hungry host who couldn't finish it all. Even though they handed out leftovers, the crew said it was worth the trip to see this Panhandle pattie.

---

I've been to Arnolds a few times while I was going to TSTI in Amarillo. The first time I went, I was warned to get the "Junior Cheeseburger", so for once in my life I took some advice and was glad I did because I couldn't finish it and the heaping mound of fries that came with the burger.

The 24" burger is often served to parties and is probably enough for 6-8 people. They turn the beef patty with a spatula that looks like it's been made from a large snow shovel.

Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

Never, ever

Of all the words in the dictionary, this is one that's never been said about me.

Probably why I'm not a crime investigator, huh?

I will never vote for a Baptist.

That's the title of a post in a political forum I pop in on from time-to-time. There has been some controversy over the Republican frontrunner, Mitt Romney. Romney is a Mormon, and I "guess" that this guy is angry that some in the forum aren't backing his guy but instead are backing Huckabee, an ordained minister.

(I will have to make sure that's correct. I "think" it's Huckabee; that sort of thing is one of the "lesser" things I think about when choosing a political candidate. It's important, but not as important as where he/she stands on the issues)

Here's the rest of his post:

I grew up as a Baptist. When I gained enough sense to see through their narrow minded concept of religion I left. I did not agree with their racist attitudes regarding those other than Baptists. I did not agree with their ideas of starting a new church whenever their thoughts disagreed with the prevailing ideas. I thought their list of things you can not do disagreed with the Bible.

It is very dangerous for a Baptist to even be running for president much less a Baptist preacher.

You guys know me; I couldn't help it.

Semper Fidelis - Marine Corps Band

Happy 232nd Birthday!

Bang A Gong (Get it On) - T Rex

Out of Order

Scheduled outage at 11PM PST

Estimated ten minutes downtime.

Gift for Mother

Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly Mother.

The first said, "I built a big house for our Mother."

The second said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."

The third smiled and said, "I've got you both beat. You remember how Mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know she can't see very well any more. I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took Elders in the church 12 years to teach him. He's one of a kind. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it."

Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks:

"Milton," she wrote one son, "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."

"Gerald," she wrote to another, "I am too old to travel any more. My eyesight isn't what it used to be. I stay most of the time at home, so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!"

"Dearest Donald," she wrote to her third son, "you have the good sense to know what your Mother likes. The chicken was delicious!"

Top 25 Country Songs

TOP 25 COUNTRY SONGS

25. Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye.
24. Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Were Pure.
23. How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
22. I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling.
21. I Just Bought A Car From A Guy That Stole My Girl, But The Car Don't Run So I Figure We're Even.
20. I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You.
19. I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well.
18. I Still Miss You, Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better.
17. I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dog Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win.
16. I'll Marry You Tomorrow But Let's Honeymoon Tonight.
15. I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here
14. I've Got Tears In My Ears From Lyin' On My Back and Cryin' Over You.
13. If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You.
12. If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now.
11. Mama Get A Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head).
10. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love You.
9. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Sure Do Miss Him.
8. Please Bypass This Heart.
7. She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger.
6. You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat.
5. You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly.
4. If the Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me.
3. She's Actin' Single and I'm Drinkin' Doubles.
2. She's Looking Better After Every Beer.

And the Number 1 Country and Western song of all Time is...

1. I Haven't Gone To Bed With Any Ugly Women But I've Sure Woke Up

Cowboy poet goes home

From Texas Day-by-Day (feed in right-hand column)

On this day in 1940, the cowboy “poet laureate,” Lysius Gough, was found dead at his home in Amarillo. His latest poem, still scrolled in the typewriter, was appropriately titled “Gone.” Gough, born in Lamar County in 1862, was a man of diverse talents and interests. After running away from home as a teenager, he punched cattle on several drives and earned the nickname “Parson” at the T Anchor Ranch because he never swore.

In the mid-1880s Gough obtained his teaching certificate and became principal of Pilot Point Institute. During this time he also published his first book of cowboy verse, Western Travels and Other Rhymes. Eventually he studied law, married Ida Russell, and was one of the first settlers of Castro County, where he taught school at Dimmitt. He later engaged in real estate, irrigation well drilling, and farming. In the 1920s Gough served as president of the Texas Wheat Growers Association and also helped organize the Panhandle-Plains Historical Society. He published Spur Jingles and Saddle Songs in 1935.

Read more at Cowboy Poetry

What'd I Say - Ray Charles

Boomhauer on The Net

This is dedicated to our late friend Brad in Kentucky. He said he loved the Mike Judge animated series "King of the Hill" (a sweet little satire about life in Texas) mainly because of Boomhauer.

Brad said he knew a LOT of people in Kentucky who spoke that way.

Yeah, but my bark's worse than my bite.

In keeping with the procrastination-as-usual theme of this blog (and most any other thing I do), here's a Blogstuff thing I had saved for Halloween.

---

You Are a Werewolf

You're unpredictable, moody, and downright freaky. You seem sweet and harmless, until you snap. Then you're a total monster. Very few people can predict if you're going to be Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. But for you, all your transformations seem perfectly natural. Your greatest power: Your ability to tap into nature Your greatest weakness: Lack of self control You play well with: Vampires

What Kind of Monster Are You?

I'd cry, but...

I can't spare the water.

---

Vote on Pickens project a sure bet

By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press

LUBBOCK -- It won't take long to count the votes next week on a plan that would help billionaire T. Boone Pickens deliver Panhandle water to growing North Texas communities. There's even less doubt about the outcome.

Just two people -- Pickens' ranch manager and his wife -- will cast ballots Tuesday on whether to confirm the creation of the Fresh Water Supply District in Roberts County.

Alton Boone, who manages Pickens' vast Canadian River Valley ranch, and his wife, Lu, live within the 8-acre water district and are its only eligible voters.

The couple also will vote to seat a five-member board of supervisors -- which would include themselves and three Pickens employees -- and to approve $101 million in revenue bonds to acquire rights of way through as many as 12 counties for delivering water- and wind-generated electricity.

The bonds would be repaid from money collected from water and electricity customers who benefit from Pickens' energy projects.

The election is the next step in a five-year effort by Pickens' Mesa Water to market and ship water from the Ogallala Aquifer to thirsty cities.

Pickens also wants to install 2,700 large wind turbines in four Panhandle counties. Together, they would be capable of producing 4,000 megawatts of electricity, making it the world's largest wind farm.

Roberts County commissioners formed the water district in September at the request of landowners in the district -- all of whom had recently bought their acreage from Pickens. Under Texas law, voters living on the affected land must ratify the change before it becomes official.

Texas' 55 freshwater districts have been established since 1919, when the Legislature authorized them for the exclusive purpose of providing and distributing water for domestic and commercial use.

Local officials say the election has drawn more interest from afar than from within the county.

"Most of them say, 'I can't believe he can do that"' County Judge Vernon Cook said. "I say, 'Yes, that's the way our fearless leaders [in Austin] changed the statute.'

"There's no doubt in my mind it'll be formed."

Texas lawmakers say they made the changes this year in an effort to standardize the state's water laws and to give property owners a greater say on issues affecting their land.

"In the end, it's not any special Pickens law," said Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe. "Nothing to do with Pickens was even remotely part of my efforts at all."

Others, however, suggest that money played a part in the changes. Andrew Wheat of Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks money in politics, said Pickens spent about $2.2 million on lobbyists this year and campaign contributions in 2006.

"It could be coincidence. But if it is, it's a hell of a coincidence," Wheat said. "No sooner did this law take effect, and his lawyers were already working on this particular proposal that seems to be framed by the very legal changes made."

But Monty Humble, Pickens' attorney, denied that the oil tycoon was behind the legislation.

"We had absolutely nothing to do with" those changes, Humble said.

Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, voiced other worries.

"What concerns me more is the potential to undermine the conservation of [Panhandle] groundwater that's facing some real challenges," he said. "Those changes [in the statutes] were not in anticipation of exportation of water" by Pickens or anyone else.

I've Got the Write Stuff

What Your Handwriting Says About You

You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress. You are very extroverted and outgoing. You are loving, friendly, and supportive. However, you are also manipulative and controlling at times. You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others. You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well. You are conservative, old fashioned, and a little stubborn. You are resistant to change. You are a decent communicator. You eventually get your point across, but sometimes you leave things a bit ambiguous.

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

A Message from the Beej

Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Witches in Macbeth William Shakespeare

Humorous Halloween Horrorscopes

Ascaryus (Jan 20-Feb 18): This Halloween looks to be a scary one for you. But before you go around crying, "Ooooh, I want my mummy! I want my mummy!" think about this: You want more lovin’, right? Well, if you run around like a scaredycat, you will, to quoth the raven, "Neverscore."

Pieces (Feb 19-Mar 20): Vampires are evil, hypnotic people who will emerge in the night and drain you. Sounds like someone I used to date. You need to be careful because you may have closed the metaphoric coffin lid on a relationship, only to find that this person will rise from the graveyard of your heart to worm their way back into your life. One word of advice from "Buffy The Vampire Slayer": A vampire can only come in if you invite them.

Scaries (Mar 21-Apr 19): You've got to pick up every stitch this Halloween because, unless I miss my guess, it must be the Season of the Witch. If only every holiday could be commemorated with a bad Donovan song. Wouldn't it be great, on Thanksgiving, to sit around the table, giving thanks for the bounty we are to receive by singing a rousing round of "Mellow Yellow"? That is truly the most horrifying thought you can be faced with this Halloween.

Tarot (Apr 20-May 20): Sure, you ladies have been looking for some lovin'. But you don't want to go for just any Tom Dick and Harry. And heaven forfend you go for any Jack you find, especially when that Jack is some hollow-headed grinning gap-toothed idiot. But then again, despite his weird exterior, if you look inside, you'll see a flame burning bright. This might be the season of the witch, but if you try not to act so witchy and look past the odd exterior, you'll find hidden depths in the ugliest places.

OnlyOneEye (May 21- Jun 20): Horror is in the eye of the beholder, whether that eye be bloodshot and yellow, peering at you from the shadows of the night, or whether the eye is a horrible dismembered giant radioactive eye. What is truly scary? A werewolf? A werewolf is not so much a horrible half-man half-beast as a chronic undershaver. A headless horseman is just the victim of a particularly bad hair day. In much the same way, you can find the brighter side of anything that comes your way, no matter how horrific or annoying.

Dancer (Jun 21-Jul 22): Scary is relative, and we don't just mean your crazy relatives who threaten to come visit for six weeks, but rather the idea that whereas a movie with monsters made out of cardboard boxes and paper mache may have been the scariest thing you'd ever seen when you were eight, it now looks like crap. You must get over your initial fears of a new project or relationship; although it seems insurmountable now, if you stick with it, you will eventually be able to overcome it.

Tao (Jul 23-Aug 22): Frankenstein's monster was, of course, made out of the parts of a couple dozen other people, which must have been hell when it came to custody hearings. Nothing's more awkward at a family reunion than having one-tenth of Cousin Harry show up at the buffet. You, too, feel like you're being pulled in twenty different directions, but you'll soon receive the jolt you'll need to get on your feet again.

Vertigo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Pity the poor skeleton who wanders around on Halloween, looking so unfashionable in all-white a full two months after Memorial Day. Of course, he can't help it, and he is actually successful in the love department; after all, he is "ribbed" for her pleasure. This week you'll find that you attract more flies with honey than even dead zombie flesh, and being inherently nice to the opposite sex will make them flock to you like vultures to a skeleton.

Webra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Zombies are pretty well-known for trying to suck the brains out of people's heads. As was every high school algebra teacher I ever had. Coincidence? Considering that those people were always pale on the point of being green, had trouble communicating more than moans and incoherent screams, and had awkward, stumbling walks down the hallway, I think it's lucky I escaped without some horrible "Night of the Living Dead scenario." You escape a horrific fate worse than death , if you can steer clear of boring people at parties.

Scareio (Oct 23-Nov 21): You think you're being slick, but the truth is that you're like a ghost; people can see through you, and all the noise you're making is more effective scaring small children and dogs than actually doing anything. It's time to leave your old haunts and take care of that grave matter that's all your vault.

Sekeltarious (Nov 22-Dec 21): Boo! Scared ya!

Capricandycorn (Dec 22-Jan 19): You're in the zone this week! The Twilight Zone, that is, and it's going to be a creepy thrill ride with an incredibly ironic twist at the end that serves as a commentary on our mixed-up Cold War nuclear society. Don't let the creepy situations you get yourself into this week get you skittish. Let them get you Skittles; why not go Trick-or-Treating? It's fun to dress up, get given stuff, and not have to give ten percent to a big guy named Huggy Bear. And Halloween candy doesn't count as calories!

Obfuscate the Truth

A fancy word for "LIE"


I remember my mom used to say:

"How dare you have the audacity to doubt my veracity, or even insinuate that I prevaricate!"

Caricature of the Day Answer

The caricature of the day answer is:



Caricature Zone

Back to the Caricature of the Day post

OR

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Close the Polls!

This is today's poll on my Dallas Cowboys website; I had read an article, then tried to return to the home page, but the page wouldn't come up. A refresh showed me that the page was being updated and this brand new poll was now on the page and I was the first one to cast a ballot!

Sometimes the poll results are ludicrous, especially as one would think that people who frequent a pro football fansite would probably know more than the average fan.

Anyone who knows anything about football knows that the success of a football team, esp. their success offensively, is directly due to having a dominant O-Line.

So, close the polls. I've supplied the answer.

valetudinarian

When I was a kid, and ran out of things to read, I would pick up the dictionary, try to increase my vocabulary. Granted, I didn't pick up that many to use in most every-day conversations, but I could generally kick butt in Scrabble.

This blog has a feed down a bit in the left-hand navbar, a Word of the Day from Dictionary.com, and I've never heard of today's entry, valetudinarian

From the website:

valetudinarian \val-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un
noun:1. A weak or sickly person, especially one morbidly concerned with his or her health.
adjective:1. Sickly; weak; infirm.2. Morbidly concerned with one's health.

I loved this example they gave:

Other than the Holy Scripture, he cared for no book as well as the book of decay, its truths written in the furrows scored on the brows of old men and women; in the sagging timbers of decrepit barns; in the lichenous masonry of derelict buildings; in the mangy fur of a valetudinarian lion.
-- Simon Schama, Rembrandt's Eyes

I can use that in a sentence:

"I was the valetudinarian of my senior class."